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Sketches of a Black Cat - Full Color Collector's Edition: Story of a night flying WWII pilot and artist
(Available in Color or B&W - click both format arrows - or Color Kindle) This beautiful, new FULL COLOR second edition is now one hundred pages longer, filled with additional fresh stories, artwork, photos, and adventures.
Howard Miner never expected to contract the first documented case of the mumps in Guadalcanal history.
As a Navy Black Cat, he took his share of chances during the ten-hour, night long flights in darkened PBYs painted entirely black, searching the seas for enemy ships and downed fliers ~ the original stealth aircrafts. But wartime was unpredictable, and whether landing on an exotic tropical isle where the women he saw from the air turned out to be topless, or dropping wing tanks containing a strange new substance called “Napalm,” this was clearly a very different world than he had known as a college student in Indiana.
His is a tale of seven buddies, all pilots who flew at night, slept and got into mischief by day, then repeated. Their PBY Catalina odyssey stretched from the Solomon Islands to the northern tip of the Philippines and included a full range of missions, from search, attack, and bombing runs, to daring sea rescues. Howard’s journey through training and tours of duty is skillfully captured in his art and narratives, framing a wartime drama with a personal coming of age story. The descriptive verse from the artist’s viewpoint gives us a creatively told and intriguing portrayal of WWII’s Pacific Theater.
* * * * Miner combines his father's writings and interviews with WWII veterans to craft a loving tribute to the young men who fought in WWII...He does his father and other WWII veterans proud. ~Publisher's Weekly/Booklife
* * * * "Sketches of a Black Cat" is a unique and fascinating memoir of a World War II combat aviator ~ with original and previously unpublished sketches and photographs. This artfully crafted book is a must read for anyone in search of a new and completely different view into the world of war in the Pacific and on the home front during America's greatest conflict." ~ Larkin Spivey, military historian and author.
* * * * “From boxes of notes and drawings comes a book illuminating a WWII pilot’s experiences as part of the Black Cat Squadron…accounts of support missions, rescues of airmen and interactions with indigenous island peoples told in vivid but unembellished detail…a handsome volume that reads breezily and is punctuated with photos and drawings from Howard’s war years. ~ Mike Francis
the Oregonian
* * * * "Wonderful and beautifully real stories such as this are dying every day as we lose our WWII veterans. Kudos to Ron Miner for preserving and sharing with the rest of us the gold of his father's journals, photos, and drawings to bring us such a compelling look at life during the war. This is not only a valuable and insightful historical document but a dramatic and warm personal story." ~ Don Keith, WWII author
* * * * “... Howard Miner’s memoirs are a wonderful view into the world of a patrol squadron at war. Miner sees the war through the eyes of an artist, revealing details of day-to-day life that are often overlooked in war time narratives. A wholly enjoyable story!” ~ Stewart Bailey, Curator, Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum
* * * * " “As a former flight engineer aboard a PBY in WWII… I can truly say I felt as though I was on Howard’s Catalina…so many similarities to my own experiences.
Howard Miner never expected to contract the first documented case of the mumps in Guadalcanal history.
As a Navy Black Cat, he took his share of chances during the ten-hour, night long flights in darkened PBYs painted entirely black, searching the seas for enemy ships and downed fliers ~ the original stealth aircrafts. But wartime was unpredictable, and whether landing on an exotic tropical isle where the women he saw from the air turned out to be topless, or dropping wing tanks containing a strange new substance called “Napalm,” this was clearly a very different world than he had known as a college student in Indiana.
His is a tale of seven buddies, all pilots who flew at night, slept and got into mischief by day, then repeated. Their PBY Catalina odyssey stretched from the Solomon Islands to the northern tip of the Philippines and included a full range of missions, from search, attack, and bombing runs, to daring sea rescues. Howard’s journey through training and tours of duty is skillfully captured in his art and narratives, framing a wartime drama with a personal coming of age story. The descriptive verse from the artist’s viewpoint gives us a creatively told and intriguing portrayal of WWII’s Pacific Theater.
* * * * Miner combines his father's writings and interviews with WWII veterans to craft a loving tribute to the young men who fought in WWII...He does his father and other WWII veterans proud. ~Publisher's Weekly/Booklife
* * * * "Sketches of a Black Cat" is a unique and fascinating memoir of a World War II combat aviator ~ with original and previously unpublished sketches and photographs. This artfully crafted book is a must read for anyone in search of a new and completely different view into the world of war in the Pacific and on the home front during America's greatest conflict." ~ Larkin Spivey, military historian and author.
* * * * “From boxes of notes and drawings comes a book illuminating a WWII pilot’s experiences as part of the Black Cat Squadron…accounts of support missions, rescues of airmen and interactions with indigenous island peoples told in vivid but unembellished detail…a handsome volume that reads breezily and is punctuated with photos and drawings from Howard’s war years. ~ Mike Francis
the Oregonian
* * * * "Wonderful and beautifully real stories such as this are dying every day as we lose our WWII veterans. Kudos to Ron Miner for preserving and sharing with the rest of us the gold of his father's journals, photos, and drawings to bring us such a compelling look at life during the war. This is not only a valuable and insightful historical document but a dramatic and warm personal story." ~ Don Keith, WWII author
* * * * “... Howard Miner’s memoirs are a wonderful view into the world of a patrol squadron at war. Miner sees the war through the eyes of an artist, revealing details of day-to-day life that are often overlooked in war time narratives. A wholly enjoyable story!” ~ Stewart Bailey, Curator, Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum
* * * * " “As a former flight engineer aboard a PBY in WWII… I can truly say I felt as though I was on Howard’s Catalina…so many similarities to my own experiences.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 2, 2012
613 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Ron Miner
2 books7 followersRon graduated from the University of Rhode Island over 40 years ago with a BA in English. He spent thirty-five of those years as a landscape designer and contractor in Oregon. Continuing to write behind the scenes, he began to assemble a collection of short stories and family history pieces. In 2011, his father passed away and the family made some unusual discoveries. A magical trove of artwork, writing, photos, and memorabilia of all shapes and sizes lay dormant among his father’s belongings. He now realized an outstanding, poignant WWII tale about a largely unknown group of fliers was practically handed to him, presenting a unique opportunity to pay tribute to this special cast of characters.
His first book, "Sketches of a Black Cat,” has now been republished as an expanded Full Color edition and Ron continues to work enthusiastically on behalf of Black Cats and WWII veterans everywhere. Writing for blogs and magazines, giving presentations, and developing a new documentary for museums are a big part of the equation. He is also actively seeking another “Greatest Generation” story crying out to be told.
A second WWII themed historical fiction novel, “The Last Word,” is scheduled for publication in early 2020.
Ron and his wife, Heidi, live in the Oregon countryside with their dogs, enjoying hiking, gardening, and photography. Heidi is a retired teacher and Ron is still modestly involved with landscape design and consulting projects.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
February 12, 2018
Fantastic!
Ron Miner’s collection of stories and art by his father, combined with the story of his own experiences of gathering those accounts together, provides a rare opportunity for detailed insight into the experiences of an American serviceman during World War II. The stories are told in a conversational and personal way, so that the reader begins to feel connected to both narrators as their stories develop.
The artwork by Miner’s father is incredible, presenting an extraordinary level of detail. The book also offers a range of photographs of planes, servicemen, news clippings and personal letters pertaining to America’s involvement in the war. The images alone are worth the price of the book.
As a history teacher, I really appreciated the straightforward manner in which these stories are told, and the level of detail given about events which are generally only relayed factually in textbooks. I plan to share some of these stories and pictures from the book with my own students when we study WWII.
This is a fantastic book for anyone who enjoys reading biography, adventure and war stories and for history enthusiasts.
Ron Miner’s collection of stories and art by his father, combined with the story of his own experiences of gathering those accounts together, provides a rare opportunity for detailed insight into the experiences of an American serviceman during World War II. The stories are told in a conversational and personal way, so that the reader begins to feel connected to both narrators as their stories develop.
The artwork by Miner’s father is incredible, presenting an extraordinary level of detail. The book also offers a range of photographs of planes, servicemen, news clippings and personal letters pertaining to America’s involvement in the war. The images alone are worth the price of the book.
As a history teacher, I really appreciated the straightforward manner in which these stories are told, and the level of detail given about events which are generally only relayed factually in textbooks. I plan to share some of these stories and pictures from the book with my own students when we study WWII.
This is a fantastic book for anyone who enjoys reading biography, adventure and war stories and for history enthusiasts.
April 27, 2018
Great Stories, Interesting Art, and More Would Have Been Even Better
Ever wonder who paints those pictures on the front of aircraft? In the book, Sketches of a Black Cat, you’ll meet one such pilot and artist in the memoir written by his son. Howard (Howie) Miner was a WWII Navy Seaplane pilot and although he probably never painted his plane (they were black for night operations), he was also an artist. He sketched many other works for his buddies and himself, from pictures of family to scenes from his area of operations – the South Pacific.
The book moves quickly, covering training and two tours of duty in less than 250 pages including numerous photographs. Through the first tour, the pace is perhaps a little too fast, but then the story slows a bit and the reader gets a closer glimpse at Howard Miner’s life and his art. Although he flew several types of missions – humanitarian, bombing, and others – the search and rescue of downed pilots dominated the book. Many of these operations were accomplished at great peril and involving incredible skill. Landing in heavy seas “…tested the mettle of the metal” and holes from missing rivets and bullets were plugged with golf tees and pencils. Not every rescue was a success, of course, and some of the deaths seemed cruel twists of fate. Life between flights is also described, where rations seemed to vary from feast to famine and weather from picturesque sunsets to hurricane force winds and torrential rain. But with the aid of the occasion R&R, Howard and his buddies persisted and generally did so with a sense of humor.
The artwork in the book included photographs of people, notebooks, maps, letters, and Howard Miner’s sketches. The drawings were both pencil and in color, the latter appearing mostly later in the book. Photos of people seemed to predominate and I would have liked to see many more of Howard’s sketches. For the potential reader, the quality of the computer rendering may be a question. On my 7” Amazon Fire, the pictures were crisp and clear, although the writing was sometimes too small to read. I also viewed some of the book using the Kindle app on a PC and here, I could enlarge the pictures so that even the smallest details were apparent.
Overall, the pictures and stories from Sketches of a Black Cat will give you a much deeper understanding and appreciation of the skills, persistence, and life of the pilots and crew that flew the Black Cats in WWII. It’s a story well worth reading…and seeing.
Ever wonder who paints those pictures on the front of aircraft? In the book, Sketches of a Black Cat, you’ll meet one such pilot and artist in the memoir written by his son. Howard (Howie) Miner was a WWII Navy Seaplane pilot and although he probably never painted his plane (they were black for night operations), he was also an artist. He sketched many other works for his buddies and himself, from pictures of family to scenes from his area of operations – the South Pacific.
The book moves quickly, covering training and two tours of duty in less than 250 pages including numerous photographs. Through the first tour, the pace is perhaps a little too fast, but then the story slows a bit and the reader gets a closer glimpse at Howard Miner’s life and his art. Although he flew several types of missions – humanitarian, bombing, and others – the search and rescue of downed pilots dominated the book. Many of these operations were accomplished at great peril and involving incredible skill. Landing in heavy seas “…tested the mettle of the metal” and holes from missing rivets and bullets were plugged with golf tees and pencils. Not every rescue was a success, of course, and some of the deaths seemed cruel twists of fate. Life between flights is also described, where rations seemed to vary from feast to famine and weather from picturesque sunsets to hurricane force winds and torrential rain. But with the aid of the occasion R&R, Howard and his buddies persisted and generally did so with a sense of humor.
The artwork in the book included photographs of people, notebooks, maps, letters, and Howard Miner’s sketches. The drawings were both pencil and in color, the latter appearing mostly later in the book. Photos of people seemed to predominate and I would have liked to see many more of Howard’s sketches. For the potential reader, the quality of the computer rendering may be a question. On my 7” Amazon Fire, the pictures were crisp and clear, although the writing was sometimes too small to read. I also viewed some of the book using the Kindle app on a PC and here, I could enlarge the pictures so that even the smallest details were apparent.
Overall, the pictures and stories from Sketches of a Black Cat will give you a much deeper understanding and appreciation of the skills, persistence, and life of the pilots and crew that flew the Black Cats in WWII. It’s a story well worth reading…and seeing.
January 9, 2018
I don’t read a lot of memoirs and I’m not a WWII history buff, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Fascinating insights into the lives of the young pilots and crewmen aboard what amounted to a flying boat in the Pacific Theater. The aircraft, itself, is amazing to read about. It landed and took off from the surface of the ocean, many times rescuing downed American fliers; it was painted black to make it less visible to the enemy (the first stealth aircraft?); and apparently, it was quite a challenge to fly.
My father was an Army paratrooper, although he was too young to serve in WWII, serving in the Vietnam War instead. And I heard stories about jumping out of airplanes, which was way too scary for me. But I have to admit, the author’s descriptions of his father’s experiences flying a “Black Cat” were harrowing. I tried to imagine the courage it took to do what Howard Miner and the others did! I actually gasped out loud a number of times reading the book.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the comradery among the crew, the pranks and hijinks. I laughed out loud reading about the 10-holer outhouse over the surf and the wall-sized urinal made of beer bottles set in mortar. I also grieved over the deaths of friends and other airmen who lost their lives, especially the three killed in an accidental crash caused by another American taking a girlfriend for a joyride. And I loved all the pictures and sketches “Howie” Miner did while overseas.
My only complaint: I wish the author had set up the story more succinctly with an introduction that made it clear who was writing the book and how it was written.
My father was an Army paratrooper, although he was too young to serve in WWII, serving in the Vietnam War instead. And I heard stories about jumping out of airplanes, which was way too scary for me. But I have to admit, the author’s descriptions of his father’s experiences flying a “Black Cat” were harrowing. I tried to imagine the courage it took to do what Howard Miner and the others did! I actually gasped out loud a number of times reading the book.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the comradery among the crew, the pranks and hijinks. I laughed out loud reading about the 10-holer outhouse over the surf and the wall-sized urinal made of beer bottles set in mortar. I also grieved over the deaths of friends and other airmen who lost their lives, especially the three killed in an accidental crash caused by another American taking a girlfriend for a joyride. And I loved all the pictures and sketches “Howie” Miner did while overseas.
My only complaint: I wish the author had set up the story more succinctly with an introduction that made it clear who was writing the book and how it was written.
June 24, 2018
This is a jewel of a book. This is the kind of book that would have made me do better in history class. It was a fun and engaging read - overall a satisfying read. I learned a lot about World War II. The combination of memoir, pictures, and drawings are captivating. They put the reader right in the middle of the action from the unique perspective of someone who served, observed, and took tremendous notes. What a great way to honor one of the brave individuals who served our country and also what a great way to honor your father. Well done!
October 17, 2017
“Sketches of a Black Cat” is the true story of Howard Miner and his experiences piloting a “PBY” (an amphibious aircraft) in the Pacific Theater during World War II. The author of this work is Howard Miner’s son, Ron Miner, and the story is based on his father’s letters, notes, logs, sketches and other art works.
It is a fascinating account, covering not only Howard Miner’s missions (mostly reconnaissance and search-and-rescue), but also his observations and feelings as a young man on and off-duty during the war. I thought the mix was good, giving the reader a feeling both for the complexities and horrors of war, and for the daily lives of the (mostly) young men who had to deal with it.
As well-written as this story is, perhaps it was a mistake for the author to write it in the first person. It means the author is taking his father’s words, and . . . well, we don’t know what exactly, and that’s the problem. Clearly, he’s filling in blanks and adding some historical context, but is he also cleaning them up, or sparing the reader some of his father’s more gruesome or gritty observations? For me, it puts the book, which is clearly intended to be read as history rather than historical fiction, in an uncomfortable gray area, where it is neither one, exactly. My only other, and much less significant, complaint is that the images (photographs and artwork) were often displayed 2 or 3 on a page, which meant they were small and the finer details were lost. I understand the constraints of space, but I think I would have preferred fewer images, if the ones selected could have been significantly larger (to be fair, the images may show in greater detail on a different e-reader or in the paper version).
Despite these gripes, I can’t imagine that anyone interested in American history would not find this book fascinating, informative, and a good read, and clearly the author’s heart is in the right place, and he should be commended for the work of making the story of his father’s service available to the public.
It is a fascinating account, covering not only Howard Miner’s missions (mostly reconnaissance and search-and-rescue), but also his observations and feelings as a young man on and off-duty during the war. I thought the mix was good, giving the reader a feeling both for the complexities and horrors of war, and for the daily lives of the (mostly) young men who had to deal with it.
As well-written as this story is, perhaps it was a mistake for the author to write it in the first person. It means the author is taking his father’s words, and . . . well, we don’t know what exactly, and that’s the problem. Clearly, he’s filling in blanks and adding some historical context, but is he also cleaning them up, or sparing the reader some of his father’s more gruesome or gritty observations? For me, it puts the book, which is clearly intended to be read as history rather than historical fiction, in an uncomfortable gray area, where it is neither one, exactly. My only other, and much less significant, complaint is that the images (photographs and artwork) were often displayed 2 or 3 on a page, which meant they were small and the finer details were lost. I understand the constraints of space, but I think I would have preferred fewer images, if the ones selected could have been significantly larger (to be fair, the images may show in greater detail on a different e-reader or in the paper version).
Despite these gripes, I can’t imagine that anyone interested in American history would not find this book fascinating, informative, and a good read, and clearly the author’s heart is in the right place, and he should be commended for the work of making the story of his father’s service available to the public.
August 29, 2020
The PBY Catalina served two different and vital roles in the Pacific Theater. With their exceptional endurance, 12 hours in US service and pushed to 30 hours by the absolute mad lads in the Australia forces, and ability to land on anything calmer than a Beaufort Scale 4, the Cat or Dumbo served as a long-range scout and air-sea rescue plan.
Howard Miner, the author's father, flew in both missions in two tours in the South Pacific. Howard was also a talented journal-keeper and artist. Decades on, his children collected his papers, and Ron assembled these notes and sketches, along with interviews with surviving crew, into an account of time in the South Pacific. Some of the artwork is quite good, and this is a pleasant slice of life of young men at war in the exotic South Pacific, with friendly natives, food that varies between incredible and inedible depending on the vagaries of supply, and hijinks on base and R&R.
Combat is a definite secondary theme. Death in the air is sudden and mysterious, and the long-range PBYs don't get shot down so much as disappear, presumed lost. Bad weather and bad landings are more dangerous than the Japanese. As a rescue pilot, Lt. Miner could be justified in thinking that his war was morally pure. A handful of bombing runs, one a close support mission with napalm, are the exception to acting as an aerial savior.
I imagine this book is much better as a coffee table book. I read the kindle edition, with the art laid out on faux-stained pages. It works alright.
Howard Miner, the author's father, flew in both missions in two tours in the South Pacific. Howard was also a talented journal-keeper and artist. Decades on, his children collected his papers, and Ron assembled these notes and sketches, along with interviews with surviving crew, into an account of time in the South Pacific. Some of the artwork is quite good, and this is a pleasant slice of life of young men at war in the exotic South Pacific, with friendly natives, food that varies between incredible and inedible depending on the vagaries of supply, and hijinks on base and R&R.
Combat is a definite secondary theme. Death in the air is sudden and mysterious, and the long-range PBYs don't get shot down so much as disappear, presumed lost. Bad weather and bad landings are more dangerous than the Japanese. As a rescue pilot, Lt. Miner could be justified in thinking that his war was morally pure. A handful of bombing runs, one a close support mission with napalm, are the exception to acting as an aerial savior.
I imagine this book is much better as a coffee table book. I read the kindle edition, with the art laid out on faux-stained pages. It works alright.
December 17, 2017
This is an interesting memoir on Howard Miner. He was assigned to the “Black Cat” squadron. These men flew those fat pigs that roamed the skies of the Pacific looking for downed airmen and at times assisting in bombing missions.
This is the first work I’ve read dedicated to these men. I always wondered why some of the PBY’s were painted black. Now I know.
While this is an excellent recounting of a veteran who has passed on, I think it needs another good fleshing through. I had a hard time with the introduction. Seemed to jump around too much. This could easily be revised and made to flow better.
I was disappointed there weren’t more photos and sketches. We are told at the beginning that there are hundreds of each and yet we are only given a very small glimpse of his work. Perhaps in the next versions his son will dedicated much larger contribution at the end.
One thing I did not like was the occasional headliners placed on pages. This isn’t a magazine article, it’s a book, treat it as such. They were distracting and did not add to the memoir.
There are many excellent recollections from Howard during his two tours. The most haunting is when he and his crew rescue five airman, only two have three of them perish a few days after returning to base in a mid-air collision with a Lt. who was giving his girlfriend a joy ride. I cannot fathom how depressed he felt. The other two survivors would have been on the same flight if they hadn’t been in the hospital.
Overall, it is an enlightening and interesting read for any World War Two enthusiast.
Four stars
This is the first work I’ve read dedicated to these men. I always wondered why some of the PBY’s were painted black. Now I know.
While this is an excellent recounting of a veteran who has passed on, I think it needs another good fleshing through. I had a hard time with the introduction. Seemed to jump around too much. This could easily be revised and made to flow better.
I was disappointed there weren’t more photos and sketches. We are told at the beginning that there are hundreds of each and yet we are only given a very small glimpse of his work. Perhaps in the next versions his son will dedicated much larger contribution at the end.
One thing I did not like was the occasional headliners placed on pages. This isn’t a magazine article, it’s a book, treat it as such. They were distracting and did not add to the memoir.
There are many excellent recollections from Howard during his two tours. The most haunting is when he and his crew rescue five airman, only two have three of them perish a few days after returning to base in a mid-air collision with a Lt. who was giving his girlfriend a joy ride. I cannot fathom how depressed he felt. The other two survivors would have been on the same flight if they hadn’t been in the hospital.
Overall, it is an enlightening and interesting read for any World War Two enthusiast.
Four stars
September 29, 2021
Wonderful book
This book is about the role that PBY planes served in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. It is written by the son of one of the captains of a PBY. His father was more than a pilot, he was a writer, an artist and a great storyteller. This book is filled with his drawings and photographs. I recommend this book to everyone.
This book is about the role that PBY planes served in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. It is written by the son of one of the captains of a PBY. His father was more than a pilot, he was a writer, an artist and a great storyteller. This book is filled with his drawings and photographs. I recommend this book to everyone.
April 17, 2023
Well done, an excellent memoir
Very well written as well as engaging. I was familiar with the general war geography and jargon used and it made the book feel as if I was there. Well done.
Very well written as well as engaging. I was familiar with the general war geography and jargon used and it made the book feel as if I was there. Well done.
July 23, 2018
Ron Miner has done a great favor for readers interested in the Second World War or in flying. His father, Howard Miner was an artist who joined the US Navy Air Corp. Ron has given us his father’s collected journal accounts, photographs and drawings from his service in the Pacific theater of the war. Ron kept Howard Miner’s straight-forward and fast-paced writing style. Ron interjected information that was missing with the same storytelling and immediate feel. Ron’s second edition includes much more information from the other fliers who knew his father and flew the same and similar missions. We can imagine that the interviews were cathartic for both interviewer and interviewee. Ron and Howard Miner’s history includes flight training, descriptions of the different airplanes used, learning about the Pacific island world, and harrowing accounts of battles and rescues aided by the Pacific Islanders. Howard and his pilot buddies were members of VP-54, the Black Cat squadron of PBY amphibious aircraft. Their planes, painted black, flew at night without lights to scout enemy positions, rescue downed pilots and communicated Japanese fleet and air strip positions to US fighters and bombers. Howard’s drawings and photographs add wonderful immediacy to the story of this harrowing experience.
A fine read. A treasure to historians. A must for libraries and universities as well as the home reader.
A fine read. A treasure to historians. A must for libraries and universities as well as the home reader.
July 21, 2019
Good Reading Material
This was a really good book and it was entertaining. I’m glad the children were able to write about their Dad’s WWII experiences.
When I first went to work with an electric utility in 1970, there were a number of men who had some great WWII experiences and some time at lunch or on breaks they would talk about them.
None of them were great hero’s or aircraft aces, but they all had a story. One guy was a Ranger at Normandy on D-Day and got shot and wounded; another was an officer on Patton’s staff; another was an Army Scout; another was in a “crows nest” on a battleship and saw the whole of the Normandy Invasion on D-Day; another was a B-17 mechanic; and, others. All of them could have written a book and, I told them, but they laughed at me. Now they’re gone and their stories are gone forever.d
Thank You for writing this.
This was a really good book and it was entertaining. I’m glad the children were able to write about their Dad’s WWII experiences.
When I first went to work with an electric utility in 1970, there were a number of men who had some great WWII experiences and some time at lunch or on breaks they would talk about them.
None of them were great hero’s or aircraft aces, but they all had a story. One guy was a Ranger at Normandy on D-Day and got shot and wounded; another was an officer on Patton’s staff; another was an Army Scout; another was in a “crows nest” on a battleship and saw the whole of the Normandy Invasion on D-Day; another was a B-17 mechanic; and, others. All of them could have written a book and, I told them, but they laughed at me. Now they’re gone and their stories are gone forever.d
Thank You for writing this.
July 25, 2016
Sketches of a Black Cat is a true first person account of what it was like to be a young man, suddenly enlisted and swept away from his home and family into the onslaught of World War II. This intimate memoir has been culled from the WWII journals, letters and sketches of Navy Pilot, Howard Miner, and meticulously compiled and shaped into a narrative (after Howard Miner’s death) by his son, who, like his father, is a fine writer with a keen sense of focus and story. Within these pages you’ll find scenes of war, adventure, coming of age, friendship in wartime, and, of course, history.
About the illustrations—watercolors, sketches, notes and pages from log books—lucky us, that Howie Miner had downtime when he was marooned and marking time between assignments to explore and sketch, paint, and write about his experiences. I loved this book.
About the illustrations—watercolors, sketches, notes and pages from log books—lucky us, that Howie Miner had downtime when he was marooned and marking time between assignments to explore and sketch, paint, and write about his experiences. I loved this book.
November 5, 2020
This is another one of those books told in the first person by a dead man through a surrogate author, in this case the man's son. I can't help but wonder what Ron Miner's process was for constructing the narrative. Are the quotes supposed to be what was really said?
In that way it reminds me of the Robin Olds "autobiography," also written by a surrogate who did his work after the nominal author was dead. (Albeit with the cooperation and assistance of Olds' daughter.)
But in that case the subject led a more interesting and consequential life than the PBY pilot whose son write this book. If you're looking for action, keep looking, because Miner's war record, while commendable, was not out of the ordinary or exciting. It was easy to put this book down, and I quit after reading 80 percent of it.
The best story in the book is a third-hand account of the first sighting of the Japanese fleet at the Battle of Midway by PBY pilot Jack Reid. According to the author, his dad got the story from a squadron mate who served with Reid in another squadron. It's a great story but doesn't make sense. Here's the gist of it: Reid and his crew "flew some 650 miles daily for several days searching for the battle group and each day just at the turn around point, a pesky and persistent Nell 96 (twin-engine, land-based bomber) would open up on them, putting a few holes in their PBY. They fired back from the blisters, but were unable to damage the attacker enough to deter it. When they returned to Midway, Reid’s Plane Captain, R.J. Deroin, managed to rustle up a few rounds of a new type of .50 caliber bullet used in the Army B-17s stationed there. It was specifically designed to explode on impact causing more damage than conventional ammo. They divided these cartridges between their blister guns and felt ready to take some measure of revenge on the Nell 96. DeRoin had a wife and two children. On this particular day, he loaded an additional 50 gallons of fuel for each of them for luck, and with that extra 150 gallons the PBY lifted off and again began its routine. However, when they reached the appointed turn around, there was no sign of the Japanese aircraft. Disappointed, copilot Bob Swan persuaded Reid to continue on a few minutes more, and with DeRoin’s assurances about the extra fuel in reserve, he agreed. Another ten minutes and below them, visible on the horizon, were the first of the Japanese attacking forces."
There are two questionable assertions in the story. One, how did Reid get an extra 150 gallons of fuel into his plane? It seems unlikely that the tanks wouldn't already be full for every search mission. Two, how is it that a land-based Japanese bomber repeatedly encountered Reid's PBY at the extent of his search pattern? I guess it could have happened but sure wouldn't bet on it.
In that way it reminds me of the Robin Olds "autobiography," also written by a surrogate who did his work after the nominal author was dead. (Albeit with the cooperation and assistance of Olds' daughter.)
But in that case the subject led a more interesting and consequential life than the PBY pilot whose son write this book. If you're looking for action, keep looking, because Miner's war record, while commendable, was not out of the ordinary or exciting. It was easy to put this book down, and I quit after reading 80 percent of it.
The best story in the book is a third-hand account of the first sighting of the Japanese fleet at the Battle of Midway by PBY pilot Jack Reid. According to the author, his dad got the story from a squadron mate who served with Reid in another squadron. It's a great story but doesn't make sense. Here's the gist of it: Reid and his crew "flew some 650 miles daily for several days searching for the battle group and each day just at the turn around point, a pesky and persistent Nell 96 (twin-engine, land-based bomber) would open up on them, putting a few holes in their PBY. They fired back from the blisters, but were unable to damage the attacker enough to deter it. When they returned to Midway, Reid’s Plane Captain, R.J. Deroin, managed to rustle up a few rounds of a new type of .50 caliber bullet used in the Army B-17s stationed there. It was specifically designed to explode on impact causing more damage than conventional ammo. They divided these cartridges between their blister guns and felt ready to take some measure of revenge on the Nell 96. DeRoin had a wife and two children. On this particular day, he loaded an additional 50 gallons of fuel for each of them for luck, and with that extra 150 gallons the PBY lifted off and again began its routine. However, when they reached the appointed turn around, there was no sign of the Japanese aircraft. Disappointed, copilot Bob Swan persuaded Reid to continue on a few minutes more, and with DeRoin’s assurances about the extra fuel in reserve, he agreed. Another ten minutes and below them, visible on the horizon, were the first of the Japanese attacking forces."
There are two questionable assertions in the story. One, how did Reid get an extra 150 gallons of fuel into his plane? It seems unlikely that the tanks wouldn't already be full for every search mission. Two, how is it that a land-based Japanese bomber repeatedly encountered Reid's PBY at the extent of his search pattern? I guess it could have happened but sure wouldn't bet on it.
June 24, 2018
Ron Miner’s ‘Sketches of a Black Cat: Story of a Night Flying WWII Pilot and Artist’ is a captivating account of the lives of the young pilots and crewmen aboard flying boats in the Pacific Theater during the World War II. Miner combines his father's writings from the WWII journals, letters and sketches and the interviews with veterans and create a loving tribute to the all the young men who fought in WWII.
The memoir is full of shocking details. At one point, down with mumps, Howard is ordered to stay in his isolation unit (a hut in this case) while everyone else including hospital crew are led into the bomb shelter. Despite the naked threat, Howard decided to focus on the bright side (he could smell fresh ocean breeze instead of being trapped in a bomb shelter breathing moldy air!).
There are light moments: depictions of the comradery among the crew, their jokes, their pranks and boyish mischiefs.
There is tragedy: deaths of friends and other veterans who lost their lives: the three killed in an accidental mid-air collision caused by another American taking a girlfriend for a joyride: only days ago the three of them were rescued by Howard and his crew. What a traumatic experience! Then one of Howard’s friend, Ted from flying school lost his life early on. On his first solo flight around North island in San Diego he grabbed the wrong handle and, instead of, landing flaps, the dive brakes popped on: the result he went straight in. A tragic end of a young life!
The sketches that Howard drew for himself, from pictures of family to scenes from his area of operations – the South Pacific and for his friends are treat to the eye. The black and white pictures stir fond emotions for the era bygone. I read the book on my kobo and sketches and pictures, although small, were clear enough. But the writing was too small there. I actually went to my laptop to look at pictures and sketches properly.
The pace of the story is a bit too fast during the first tour. I had to go back and flip pages a few times to make sense of the things. But around 100 pages, the pace slows down, the events start making proper sense.
The best thing about Minor’s memoir is that we come across history written by someone who was there and took part in it instead of a historian’s viewpoint. That makes the stories utterly alive and real. As a reader you feel you are part of those veterans’ history. You laugh when they crank jokes, pull pranks on each other, you smile when they get a few moments of indulging in youthful excursions of meeting “skirts, senoritas” on the way, you grieve when some of them, so young and full of life lose their lives.
A book well-wroth reading, it is a treat for all the history buffs.
August 10, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this book. Reading about the life of Howard miner while he was in the navy was pretty amazing. I cannot imagine what it was like for these guys during world war 2. This book gave us an inside look to some of the thoughts and feelings of Howard during this time. I loved all the pictures and sketches in the book. Especially the pictures of the crew because it put a face to the names. Howard was an amazing artist and I found myself staring in awe at his drawings most the time. Some of the places these guys stayed at were insane. And I really love how they loved their movies! As I read, some of the stories blew me away, making my laugh, or cry. The story of the bicycle powered generator was too funny to me. I think out of the whole book, the stories of the men they picked up, that were on the island for awhile, were my favorite parts. And probably one of the saddest parts for me as well. I loved following Howard’s journey till he got his honorable discharge. I was more emotional at that point then I thought I would be and was sad that the journey was over. I really appreciated the epilogue as well. Reading what became of these men once again made me super emotional. But I loved that they still had their reunions and kept in touch for the rest of their lives. I most definitely recommend this book!
January 22, 2018
It’s fascinating to learn about someone’s life through their writings, interviews, journal logs, drawings, and be retold as a memoir by their child. In reading “Sketches of a Black Cat,” author Ron Miner shares with his readers what his father, Howard Miner, was like in his eyes, growing up. He lived an adventurous life as a Navy Black Cat and saw to it to record every experience he had while piloting all over the world. One thing that stood out to me was the images that he sketched by hand that was included in the book. He was an extremely talented artist and he didn’t let a moment pass him by without drawing out his journey, that would one day become a book of his life today. Although not hugely knowledgeable in wars, especially WWII, this book provided a reading experience to learn more about being involved in wars from a militant’s perspective. I recommend anyone, in particular, history buffs to give this book a read.
October 18, 2019
An RM. WW II. Flying Action Adventure (SOABC)
RM. has penned a World War II flying action adventure about the blacked out sea planes doing night time mission over the South Pacific. My reason for reading the work is simple, especially yo me, because my father-in-law was a crew man on Board the sea planes rescuing downed pilot at night and day. He never said the missions were dangerous, but part of his retirement was for heroism. He flew from 1941 thru 1945. He grew up in the same neighborhood as the young men in "October Sky" and with a cousin that made General and was CO at Edwards in 1980. One of his missions was a day light one and they were rescuing three men from the same plane. He helped load all three and the last one was a classmate at high school. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
RM. has penned a World War II flying action adventure about the blacked out sea planes doing night time mission over the South Pacific. My reason for reading the work is simple, especially yo me, because my father-in-law was a crew man on Board the sea planes rescuing downed pilot at night and day. He never said the missions were dangerous, but part of his retirement was for heroism. He flew from 1941 thru 1945. He grew up in the same neighborhood as the young men in "October Sky" and with a cousin that made General and was CO at Edwards in 1980. One of his missions was a day light one and they were rescuing three men from the same plane. He helped load all three and the last one was a classmate at high school. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
September 21, 2024
Did I enjoy this book? A resounding yes.was it a well written narrative, not really. There were many repetitions and dead end stories.
But, if you had an interest in the Pacific Theater of WWII and had a little background info in the type of plane and its function and the integral part it played in the island hopping strategy this is something you have to read. The writer presents drawings made by and stories about his father, a pilot during WWII. There are “BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON” “MCCALES NAVY” and Ernie Pyle type stories to entertain you as if you were an invited guest at a reunion party of aging soldiers allowing themselves to talk about the BIG ONE.
For the minor cost of a Kindle book, I enjoyed many hours of reminiscing with a group several decades senior to me.
But, if you had an interest in the Pacific Theater of WWII and had a little background info in the type of plane and its function and the integral part it played in the island hopping strategy this is something you have to read. The writer presents drawings made by and stories about his father, a pilot during WWII. There are “BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON” “MCCALES NAVY” and Ernie Pyle type stories to entertain you as if you were an invited guest at a reunion party of aging soldiers allowing themselves to talk about the BIG ONE.
For the minor cost of a Kindle book, I enjoyed many hours of reminiscing with a group several decades senior to me.
January 21, 2018
I love books that record history from a person’s point of view who was there and not a historian or someone who has a bit of a disconnect with what actually happened. These stories are important, and recording them even more so.
With those that fought during WW2 growing older and more of us becoming disconnected with the realities of what brought us to present day, we need more books like these. They bring reality to a period we often romanticize.
Any person who loves history, WW2, or the study of war would appreciate this book. It is not written by Howard Miner, but his son. Which add another sweet element I enjoyed because you can tell the book was produced out of love.
With those that fought during WW2 growing older and more of us becoming disconnected with the realities of what brought us to present day, we need more books like these. They bring reality to a period we often romanticize.
Any person who loves history, WW2, or the study of war would appreciate this book. It is not written by Howard Miner, but his son. Which add another sweet element I enjoyed because you can tell the book was produced out of love.
January 17, 2018
Sketches of a Black Cat by Ron Miner
WW2 History Buffs will Love This Book
The Black Cats are unsung heroes that are finally getting their due.Sketches of a Black Cat is an excellent tribute and compilation, telling a great story of PBY pilot Howard Miner. The author takes you on a journey into the lives and battles of these brave men who fought for our freedom in the Pacific Theater.
History comes alive and the reader feels as if they're in the co-pilot's seat, flying the dangerous, nocturnal flights with the illusive Black Cat crew. A great book to add to your WW2 History collection.
WW2 History Buffs will Love This Book
The Black Cats are unsung heroes that are finally getting their due.Sketches of a Black Cat is an excellent tribute and compilation, telling a great story of PBY pilot Howard Miner. The author takes you on a journey into the lives and battles of these brave men who fought for our freedom in the Pacific Theater.
History comes alive and the reader feels as if they're in the co-pilot's seat, flying the dangerous, nocturnal flights with the illusive Black Cat crew. A great book to add to your WW2 History collection.
February 22, 2019
Courage and skill to save, not destroy
A captivating account of true tedium and terror, hurry up —and wait and dehydrated eggs and spam. Long flights of constant tension and no action, and equally long flights filled with cool, quiet incredible courage and amazing skill. Flashy flying fighters get deserved glory but these flyers of slow lumbering flying boats rarely fire a shot, though often shot at. The tedium of the accounts of the tedium of many of their days was masterfully convincing.
A captivating account of true tedium and terror, hurry up —and wait and dehydrated eggs and spam. Long flights of constant tension and no action, and equally long flights filled with cool, quiet incredible courage and amazing skill. Flashy flying fighters get deserved glory but these flyers of slow lumbering flying boats rarely fire a shot, though often shot at. The tedium of the accounts of the tedium of many of their days was masterfully convincing.
May 29, 2020
Black Cats on the prowl. Slow but effective.
A great book for American history and exploits of American flyers in WWII. A story of a slow plane, the pilots, and the black paint that made these ,men and machines, Angels of the oceans. Well written, fast moving, poignant. Funny, happy, sad. The living stress, of war. My father-in-law, Pacific, Army Meteorologist, flew in many of these planes to prepare weather forecasts. 17th Weather Squadron. WWII. 1943-1945. South Pacific.
A great book for American history and exploits of American flyers in WWII. A story of a slow plane, the pilots, and the black paint that made these ,men and machines, Angels of the oceans. Well written, fast moving, poignant. Funny, happy, sad. The living stress, of war. My father-in-law, Pacific, Army Meteorologist, flew in many of these planes to prepare weather forecasts. 17th Weather Squadron. WWII. 1943-1945. South Pacific.
March 24, 2024
A very nicely done biography of a "PBY Catalina" pilot in the Pacific in WW2 was assembled from his letters, logbooks, drawings, and photos. The Cat was obsolete when the war started but was still in service at the end. Doing reconnaissance, delivering freight, or rescuing downed pilots and crew, it was slow, sturdy, and very reliable. A pilot's son found his dad's papers and other memorabilia. He fleshed it out nicely with interviews, recorded memories, and some quite good museum-level research to produce this very memorable and readable memoir about his dad and the Cat.
February 14, 2025
What can I say? A very interesting and engrossing book. I hated to see it end.
Miner has a very beautiful story to tell and does a wonderful way of telling it. I liked his easy to read way of telling each area of the story. Short stretches of the movement of the unit from base to base. Just so easy to read and difficult to put down. The drawings were a great addition to the story. I enjoyed the epilogue, it winds the story up. It also shows the fellowship the crews had. My dad's crew was the same way.
Miner has a very beautiful story to tell and does a wonderful way of telling it. I liked his easy to read way of telling each area of the story. Short stretches of the movement of the unit from base to base. Just so easy to read and difficult to put down. The drawings were a great addition to the story. I enjoyed the epilogue, it winds the story up. It also shows the fellowship the crews had. My dad's crew was the same way.
March 15, 2020
Across the Pacific
One of the better memoirs I've read. Like that it covered his entire part-time experience. A good mix of flying , comeradery, and unfortunately the tragic side of the war, in particular an incident towards the end of the story. Artistry by our pilot /writer makes it quite unique.
And a Jeopardy item for you; Qustion Who is Art Fleming? Answer; He was a WWII PBY pilot.
One of the better memoirs I've read. Like that it covered his entire part-time experience. A good mix of flying , comeradery, and unfortunately the tragic side of the war, in particular an incident towards the end of the story. Artistry by our pilot /writer makes it quite unique.
And a Jeopardy item for you; Qustion Who is Art Fleming? Answer; He was a WWII PBY pilot.
October 2, 2020
Absolutely superb. I have read a lot of WW11 histories and personal accounts and if this book is not the most authentic and immediate story of WW11 I ever read, it is definitely up there.
Great balance of historic events and a human story.
The classic indicators of a good read; couldn't put it down and was so sorry when I'd finished it.
Ron Miner did an excellent job with his father's material. Can't recommend it highly enough.
Great balance of historic events and a human story.
The classic indicators of a good read; couldn't put it down and was so sorry when I'd finished it.
Ron Miner did an excellent job with his father's material. Can't recommend it highly enough.
November 6, 2020
WWII Black Cat who are they?
Sketches of a Black Cat was, to me, an excellent read. I had not read or heard of them. I have found a significant number of books about WW II. This was a very enlightened view of a sailor group that we're a vital part of winning the war. The PBY’s we're exciting aircraft that had the dual function of landing on water or land. There were many lines saved by these pilots and their planes. I am sure you will find this book very enlightening.
Sketches of a Black Cat was, to me, an excellent read. I had not read or heard of them. I have found a significant number of books about WW II. This was a very enlightened view of a sailor group that we're a vital part of winning the war. The PBY’s we're exciting aircraft that had the dual function of landing on water or land. There were many lines saved by these pilots and their planes. I am sure you will find this book very enlightening.
August 13, 2022
Detailed account and impressive artwork by pilot and author Howard Miner
Son Ron Miner did a very commendable job of assembling his father' s impressive accounts and artwork. Reading about the events as told and illustrated by a man who lived through them is a captivating, informative, touching and even entertaining experience that probably cannot be equaled by reading anything written by someone who was not there, however skillful and even literary their efforts may be.
Son Ron Miner did a very commendable job of assembling his father' s impressive accounts and artwork. Reading about the events as told and illustrated by a man who lived through them is a captivating, informative, touching and even entertaining experience that probably cannot be equaled by reading anything written by someone who was not there, however skillful and even literary their efforts may be.
January 5, 2024
Was lucky to have Amazon recommend this book! After visiting the museum at Pensacola NAS, I got interested in PBY’s. Surprisingly, a quick search on Amazon didn’t find much… After reading some WW2 books on ‘flying the hump’ and Pacific war, Sketches popped up in my recommended list.
Great read by a son of a PBY pilot with the Black Cats. The book follows him from stateside training through two tours in the Pacific. Very interesting and readable. You can tell writing this book was a labor of love.
Great read by a son of a PBY pilot with the Black Cats. The book follows him from stateside training through two tours in the Pacific. Very interesting and readable. You can tell writing this book was a labor of love.
January 16, 2018
The book is a beautiful collection of real stories mixed with personal experiences that are quite interesting to read. It’s the true story of Howard Miner when he was piloting in the Pacific Theater during WWII. His son has written this book uncovering the feeling, experiences of his father as a young pilot and off duty experiences during the time of war. Interesting treasure of American history!
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